Day 54

Read: Leviticus 20:1 – 22:33

Because God is Holy, we as believers are commanded to be holy. Today’s reading focuses on God’s command to the Israelites to set themselves apart from the surrounding immoral cultures by upholding His strict standards of holiness, purity, and reverence in personal life and worship. By doing so, they will reflect His character through obedience and consecrated living. God calls us to a higher standard. He challenges us to be “different” from the cultural norms around us (Leviticus 20:7-8).

NOTE: A strong warning against the worship of Molek appears in this reading. Molek is the idol of the Ammonites. Those who worshiped Molek participated in child sacrifice.
Back in Genesis 19:30-38 (Day 6 of our chronological Bible study), we learned that Ben-Ammi was a son born from an incestuous relationship between a father and his younger daughter.  Ben-Ammi became the father of the Ammonites.

In Leviticus 21-22, there’s a focus on holiness required of leaders and the integrity of sacrifices. We are called to bring our BEST to God. That means we should bring our best time, our best talents, our best lives! Not polluted/half-hearted efforts. The holiness of God is not casual and it requires honor.

Holiness describes the character of God and the code for Christian conduct. Scripture reveals the holiness of God and expresses God’s desire for His children to develop a similar holiness. This is why it is SO important to read our Bibles and study His Word. Living a “set apart” life of righteousness is of God and from God. A holy life is a life that ALWAYS chooses to do what God desires. It is the work of the Holy Spirit made possible through Christ’s death on the cross. As we seek to be holy and invite the Holy Spirit to do His work in us, the Lord responds by cleansing us, leading us into His righteous and holy paths, and strengthening us to withstand the temptation to return to our former ungodly lives. We cannot make ourselves holy, but if we desire to become holy and set our wills toward following the Lord, He will make us holy. Our holiness is a response to God’s grace and it is a way to honor the One who set us apart.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for calling me to be Yours. Forgive me for when I try to conform to the world instead of being set apart for You. Help me to live a life of integrity, holiness, and reverence, reflecting Your light to those around me. Amen.